0

ar

the city outside. Alessia's pulse hammered in her ears as the footste

ound hers, stea

se," he w

door cre

ckering light - someone Aless

advisor - but tonight, her eyes hel

essia's voi

ver your head, Alessia. Your family doesn't just want y

urled into a fist.

"Because I'm the one who controls the next

ld react, the ligh

m was no lo

-

ar

lining the room's perimeter - masked men in black

wasn't just a whisper in the dark

ia and Lucien. "Your father sent them. Said you nee

arp, full of warning.

en shoved Alessia behind him,

dy," he

ing - a flicker of hesitation in

in the

d there be an ally h

ed a command in Italian, and the men split

gh the chaos. "You'll n

-

ar

explode. Alessia's breath caught as

on the trigger. The masked men advanced, t

first shot rang ou

way, firing a warning shot into the ceiling. The o

uted in rap

s under my

ed as the man steppe

d lieutenant, believed to be loyal

nt. Some masked men dropped th

eized th

out of here!"

art pounding, but a sharp pain explod

o fought back-to-back again

lurred as she fled

-

beneath Lucien's villa. Alessia collap

later, bandaging her wou

sooner," he murmured, c

more... I found something in the docum

yes darken

oto - a faded image of her mother w

he?" Luc

e cracked. "My

-

, the weight of the

e game. If your mother hid this secret,

, fighting to

lightning flashing like

close, voice l

e. And soon, the whole wo

-